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Scarlett Johansson is assembling the cast of her directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great.”
June Squibb, the Oscar-nominated actress for “Nebraska,” will be joined by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Broadway veteran Jessica Hecht and Erin Kellyman.
The film, previously titled “Eleanor, Invisible,” follows Eleanor Morgenstein (Squibb), a 90-year-old woman trying to rebuild her life after the death of her best friend. As a result, she returns to New York City after living in Florida for decades. Tory Kamen, whose credits include the television comedy “The Mick,” wrote the script.
TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Classics, partnering for the first time, will release “Eleanor the Great” in theaters at a date yet to be determined.
Johansson produces the film with Jonathan Lia and Keenan Flynn for These Pictures, Kara Durrett and Jessamine Burgum for Pinky Promise, and Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler for Maven Screen Media.
Wayfarer Studios co-financed “Eleanor the Great” with Content Engineers, Pinky Promise and MacPac. Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath and Andrew Calof are executive producers for Wayfarer Studios. Ezra Gabay and Raj Kishor Khaware executive produce on behalf of Content Engineers.
This is Squibb’s second recent starring role following the nonagenarian comedy “Thelma,” which sold to Magnolia after its Sundance premiere. She will also be seen in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter Is Dead,” which opens in theaters April 12 before streaming on BET+. Squibb’s other credits include “Palm Springs,” Pixar’s “Soul” and Amy Schumer’s “Life & Beth” series. She is represented by BRS/Gage Talent Agency.
Squibb might have crossed paths with Ejiofor at this year’s Sundance, where the Oscar-nominated actor premiered his second feature, “Rob Peace.” Ejiofor, who was recognized by the Academy for “12 Years a Slave,” is set to co-star with two Toms: Hiddleston in the adaptation of Stephen King’s “Life of Chuck” and Hardy in “Venom 3.” Like Johansson, he is a veteran of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe and appeared in the 2022 box office hit “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Ejiofor is represented by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin in the UK, CAA in the US and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman LLP.
“Eleanor the Great” reunites Johansson with Hecht after they starred in the Broadway play “A View From The Bridge” (which earned them both a Tony nomination). Hecht recently returned to the stage, alongside Laura Linney, in the play “Summer, 1976.” He has appeared on shows like “Friends” and Netflix’s “Special.” Hecht is represented by Innovative Artists.
Kellyman will co-star with Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson in Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” for Apple TV+. Another MCU alum, she played Karli Morgenthau in the Disney+ series “The Falcon And The Winter Soldier.” Kellyman is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher, LLP.